Nikon

Wild Orchids (Spain)

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Out on one of our walks in Spain, we stumbled across these orchids up in the hills. I was so excited to find not just one wild orchid type, but three! I have found a few wild orchids in the UK while out walking the dogs but never with a camera in hand. Spain however is vastly different, wildlife and insects literally just lying around. Sometimes I figured it was just too hot to do anything, for them included. Which was great for photo opportunities (hence the abundance of photos I have from spending just two years there). But these were a real treat to see.

Ophrys speculum

Ophrys lutea

Ophrys tenthredenifera

(c) K Wicks

European Mantis – Brown

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Here is the next installment of mantis for you, the pale brown sandy coloured European mantis. This was the one we saw the most of, despite it blending in so well. Once you get used to spotting them my eyes would pick them out. Even seeing them when they weren’t actually there, lots of sticks and grasses got mistaken for one at first. All photos taken with my Nikon D5500.

European Mantis – Brown

They are very delicate and graceful, wonderful to watch.

European Mantis – Brown
European Mantis – Brown

They also have rather large wings tucked in neatly behind them, which completely freaked me out the first time one flew as I didn’t know. However much I like photographing nature, I still jump out of my skin when one of them does something unexpected.

European Mantis – Brown

And even weirder than I first thought, their eyes turn purple at night. Very cool.

(c) K Wicks

Daffodils

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Beautiful and bright flowers, reminds me of my birthday being in the Spring so I always get excited when I see them. My grandparents used to have a meadow nearby which in the spring was covered in daffodils and summer covered in bluebells so they represent happy times. I can definitely see my love of nature started very young.

(c) K Wicks

European Mantis – Green

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One of the most amazing things about living in Spain for me, were all the mantises. Even though we weren’t near much foliage for the first year, I managed to buy a plant from the garden center which had not one baby mantis in it, but two! You can read about that little episode here – Bobby M the wild pet Mantis

But once we moved inland a bit and into the mountains, they were in abundance. I think I photographed about 3 or 4 different types and colouring, so will do a post for each as they are such awesome creatures and deserve a post each.

Green European Mantis

This one walked right through the garden one day, taking his time. They are very curious mostly.

Green European Mantis

They let me get up quite close and their photoshoots, which is lucky for me because I get so excited I usually scare things away.

Green European Mantis
Green European Mantis

They really are an epic display of nature.

(c) K Wicks

Sweetpea Pink

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A lovely flower that reminds me of my grandmother. She had them growing in their garden and would have a small bunch fresh on the table when they were in season. They look and smell really pretty and brighten up the garden nicely.

Sweetpea
Sweetpea

This is one of the very few photos I have of an organgetip butterfly, they are so quick and rarely land, but this one let me take a few pictures.

Orangetip Butterfly on a Sweetpea

(c) K Wicks

The first mantis

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Only two months into being in Spain, I saw my first mantis. Out walking with the camera after a storm, it was just sitting there on a low wall, I couldn’t believe it. I really didn’t expect it to be so randomly there so was elated. My first photo of a mantis, which was followed by many more and will be appearing in upcoming posts 🙂

European Mantis – Brown

(c) K Wicks